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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer advised on how to solve Man Utd issue with Anthony Martial
Anthony Martial has been deputising for Manchester United hitman Marcus Rashford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs to deploy Marcus Rashsford on the left hand side if he wants to get the best out of the Frenchman, according to former Manchester United assistant manager Steve McLaren. Martial has been playing as an out-and-out striker for the last few weeks following ankle and back injuries to Marcus Rashford.
The France international has come in for fierce criticism in recent weeks, despite having 12 goals to his name this season.
During his time deputising for Rashford, Martial has only managed to find the back of net once in five appearances.
And his troubles in front of goal has McLaren believing he shouldn’t be played down the middle.
"Martial is not a number nine, he’s not a striker," McLaren said during an appearance on Sky Sports News whilst running the rule over United’s squad.
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Martial is not a number nine, he’s not a striker
"All his goals and best moments are on that left hand side, whether that's outside or inside - that's where he plays.
"He cannot play down the middle on his own."
In a bid to alleviate his side’s lack of goals, United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has secured the services of Nigeria international Odion Ighalo on loan for the remainder of the season.
And Solskjaer’s former Red Devils team-mate believes both Martial and Rashford can learn a thing or two from the veteran striker.
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“I think more in Martial’s case, as he’s been more of a centre-forward,” the former United striker told Goal. “Marcus isn’t a natural centre-forward.
You can learn off experienced players but not being that kind of natural centre-forward yourself, I think Marcus’s case is a little bit different.”
Ighalo missed United’s warm-weather training camp in Marbella due to fears he wouldn’t be allowed back in the country following the coronavirus outbreak in China.
He will, however, be included in United’s squad to face Chelsea next Monday.
"Yeah, he is going to travel with us," Solskjaer said of Ighalo.
"We will just see his fitness work this week and I think we will get him sharp.
"We want to integrate him as quickly as we can because, of course, he is desperate to play for us."
United enter their clash with the Blues in eighth place, six points behind the fourth-placed west Londoners.